The Young Child Overweight Prevention Study (YCOPS)

Year Awarded: 2004
Project Leaders:
Ihuoma Eneli, MSU Pediatrics and Human Development, James Pivarnik, MSU Department of Kinesiology/Epidemiology, Karen Davis, MSU Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Mildred Horodynski, MSU College of Nursing, Carole Flevaris, WIC Division, Department of Community Health, Kim Witte, MSU Department of Communication, Patricia Hammerschmidt, MSU Extension

Project Description:
Fifteen percent of children aged 6 to 19 and 10.4 percent of preschoolers in the United States are overweight. The prevalence of overweight children has doubled within the last three decades. This phenomenon crosses gender, race, and geographic boundaries, but minority and low socioeconomic classes are disproportionately affected. This research project addresses this rise in the number of overweight children and the emergence of serious medical complications related to weight at younger ages.

Little is known about how caregivers perceive the risk of overweight in relation to weaning behaviors, feeding practices, and physical activity when their children are very young. It is possible that because medical complications related to overweight are in the distant future for a preschooler, the risk is perceived as low. On the contrary, as we are better able to recognize the psychological and social sequelae of childhood overweight, this risk may resonate more strongly with caregivers since these types of problems have a significant impact on family cohesion, time, and resources.

The results from this research will guide the development of theoretically based health risk messages for overweight prevention. This project is part of a wider initiative on prevention and treatment of childhood overweight headed by the MSU Department of Pediatrics and Human Development.

Recent Developments: (Article from Forum, June-August 2004)